Advisor moves: Georgia RIA launches after $1.1B breakaway, Carson and Mercer expand

Three moves announced this week underscore the continued momentum of the independent wealth management channel, from a multi-generational Georgia firm cutting ties with a broker-dealer to a major aggregator deepening its Southeast footprint and a national RIA bolstering its New York City family office bench.

A 50-year firm goes independent

Brian E. Whalen, CFP, AIF, and the Stribling~Whalen Financial Group team have launched an independent registered investment advisor, marking a significant new chapter for a firm that has been serving families and business owners for more than 50 years.

The Gainesville, Georgia-based team previously managed more than $1.1 billion in client assets across more than 350 households at Raymond James. The newly formed RIA is utilizing Fidelity Investments as its custodian.

The move reflects a broader shift toward the fiduciary model that has reshaped the independent channel in recent years. Moving from a broker-dealer platform to a fee-based RIA allows the SWFG team to work in a fiduciary capacity while continuing its focus on personal relationships, thoughtful planning and long-term stewardship.

"For us, becoming an independent RIA is really about having greater flexibility to serve our clients the way we believe they should be served," said Whalen. "Our relationships with clients have always been personal. We know their families, their businesses and the goals they are working toward."

The firm was founded by Warren Stribling in 1975. The SWFG team also includes Jacob Beauchamp, Cindy Casey, Lauren Tuttle, Christa Griffin and Kayleigh Dell. The firm today serves families in Georgia as well as clients in 19 other states.

Trevor Norton, head of custody at Fidelity Investments, said the firm looks forward to "supporting their mission of offering personalized, intergenerational financial planning."

Carson adds Atlanta-area family practice

Carson Group, a leading wealth advisory firm with over $66 billion in assets under management, has announced that St. John & Associates, a family-owned wealth management firm based in Roswell, Georgia, has joined the Carson Wealth office in Milton, Georgia. The family-run team serves approximately $131 million in AUM and has long-standing client relationships that span decades.

St. John & Associates was founded by Richard St. John more than 35 years ago. The firm is now led by his son, Partner and Wealth Advisor Greg St. John, who provides comprehensive financial planning, investment management, tax strategy, estate planning and risk management services to families across the greater Atlanta area. Many of the firm's clients are now second- and third-generation relationships.

"Any decision about the firm's future had to begin with what was best for our clients," said Greg St. John. "We wanted a partner that shares our belief that planning comes first. Even with its large scale, Carson operates with the same community-focused approach we value."

Burt White, CEO of Carson Group, said the St. John team approached the decision to join Carson "by asking what's best for those families over the long term."

In addition to Greg St. John, the team includes Bryan M. Totri, CFP, director, wealth planning; Sarah Crawford, operations support associate; and Tierney Saul, relationship and operations associate.

Carson Group recently tapped ex-United Bank wealth chief Matt Humphrey, a West Point graduate and former Goldman Sachs advisor, to run its W-2 channel.

Mercer adds New York family office specialist

Mercer Advisors, a national wealth management and financial planning firm, has announced that Rebecca Iacopelli, MT, CFP, CFA, has joined the firm's New York City office as a Senior Wealth Advisor in the Regis division. Iacopelli has been in the advisory space for over 13 years, serving high and ultra-high net worth families across generations and disciplines.

She joins from Wescott Financial Advisory Group, where she served as a Senior Financial Advisor and worked with some of the firm's largest and most complex family office relationships. Earlier in her career, she held financial advisory roles at Aviance Capital Partners and Main Street Financial Life Advisors.

She holds a Master of Taxation with a concentration in estate planning from Villanova's Charles Widger School of Law and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Rutgers University.

Iacopelli will serve clients through the firm's Regis offering, which is typically most appropriate for families with $25 million or more in investable assets and ranging to over $1 billion.

Paul Oliva, Managing Partner, New York City, Mercer Advisors, said Iacopelli is "technically sharp, genuinely invested in the families she serves, and comfortable navigating the most complex planning conversations." Her experience across tax and estate strategy, he added, complements the firm's integrated approach.

Mercer Advisors has $114 billion in client assets and operates nationally through more than 110 locations, according to the firm.